FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2000

VANCOUVER GRIFFINS NAME HEAD COACH

Vancouver - The Vancouver Griffins Hockey Club of the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).today announced that Sylvain Leone, of Burnaby, BC, has been named as the franchise's first Head Coach. Mr. Leone brings 25 years coaching and playing experience to the team, including 12 years experience coaching female hockey. He served most recently as Head Coach of the Killarney Knights Female AAA team, which finished first overall in league play last year, and made the provincial finals for the last two.

"Leone brings a tremendous amount of experience coaching female hockey to the Griffins," said President and General Manger Philip DeGrandpre. "As a new franchise, we needed someone who could come in and build a team. We feel that his experience, along with his commitment to ongoing skill development, will ensure that the Griffins will be very competitive this year, " he continued,

"The establishment of the Griffins is an important advance in the growth of women's hockey in BC, and I am very proud to be part of it. We have a talented group of athletes participating in the tryout camp in June, and I am looking forward to starting to work with the players, " said Leone.

Mr. Leone has won several awards for his work as a coach and for his contribution to the development of hockey in the province. He has worked with elite programs such as the Vancouver Selects, Vancouver Super Series, BC Best Ever, and the Junior B Richmond Sockeyes. He has served as a guest coach and evaluator for several Junior A camps, and as a coach for the BCJHL Showcase Camps. Leone also played competitive hockey to the Junior level for 17 years.

The Griffins' tryout camp will take place on June 9th, 10th, and 11th at Burnaby 8 -Rinks, and is open to the public. The team's home opener will be at GM Place on Sunday October 15th, against the Brampton Thunder.

Established in January of this year, the Vancouver Griffins are the newest franchise in the 10-team semi-professional NWHL, the world's premier women's hockey league. The Griffins have applied for membership in the BC Amateur Hockey Association (BCAHA) and for affiliate membership in the South Coast Female Amateur Hockey League.

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